MEERKATS were served up a cracking Easter treat in their cosy Teesside manor.

Residents of Kirkleatham Owl Centre’s “Meerkat Manor” quite often like to snack on chicken eggs.

But when the egg you’re about to devour is almost as large as you, that’s a whole new ball game!

The four ostrich eggs - brought in from another wildlife park - were served up in tiny cups, complete with enormous spoons.

And while all five meerkats showed an interest, including new babies Rosie and Beechy, it was the male of the manor, Flynn, who really got stuck in, as our pictures show.

The centre’s Craig Wesson said: “We just thought we’d give them a pre-Easter treat and they seemed to go down well, although one of the eggs was a bit smelly!”

The Kirkleatham centre, near Redcar, is open across the holiday weekend, apart from today, with flying displays at 2.30pm, meerkat feeding and a talk at 3pm and the chance to see the first of the year’s baby owls.

For more information, call 01642 480512 or visit kirkleathamowlcentre.org.uk